Blue flame automatic burner for press feeders



Dec. 15, 1931. L. LANCE 1,836,536

BLUE FLAME AUTOMATIC BURNER FOR PRESS FEEDERS Filed Dec. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Shea 1 IIIIIIII;! !;"I'lllllllllatI.

mzm

IN VEN TOR.

1/ ATTORNEY.

Dec. .15, 1931.

C. L. LANCE BLUE FLAME AUTOMATIC BURNER PRESS FEEDERS Filed Dec.

B'Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

: Figure 3-is a lateral sectional view of the- Patented Dec. 15, 1931 PATENT OFFICE CHESTER L. LANCE, OF DALLAS, TEXAS BLUE FLAME AUTOMATIC BURNER FOR PRES$ FEEDERS Application filed December 13, 1929; serial" No. 413,926.

This invention relates to automatic printing presses of a type wherein the sheets are fed to the impression cylinder by a vacuum suction feeder, and it refers more partlcul'arly to a gas burner adapted for use upon machines of this character, capable of being positively controlled by certain operative parts of the machine.

The principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a means conveniently attachable to a pressto neutralize or dispense with static or frictional electricity, which results in offset, a source of considerable loss to the printer and annoyance to the operator.

A further object of the invention resides in the exceeding novel manner of operating the invention to effectively perform the functions for which it is intended, such operation being controlled by and in harmony with the feed starting handle of the machine, and sheet-detaining finger shaft, consequently when the machine is idle or running during the process of make ready the invention is also idle, and when the machine is put into operation for printing and at theinstant the first sheet is fedi intothe press, the invention becomes automatically operative.

Still. another object of the invention resides in its apparent simplicity of construction and operation as well as its safety and economy in performance.

With these foremost objects in View, the

invention has special reference to certain salient features of construction and arrangement of parts by which the foregoing, as well as other objects are attained, which will be described. in detail in the course of the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which latter originally formed a' part of my abandoned application Ser. No. 183,988, allowed August 10,1927, and wherein Figure 1 representsan axial cross-sectional view ofthe preferred type of valve forming part of the invention, taken on lines 1'1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the valve with the cap removed.

valve onlines 33 of Figure 2, but showing the cap attached.

lii-gure 4--is a fragmentary view of the burnpi'pe with the elbow and air adjustment attached.

Figure 5' is a perspective view of the invention illustrating diagrammatically its operative connection to the sheet detaining finger shaft of'the press feeder.-

Figure 6-is across-sectional view of the element i-il-ustrated in Figure 4:, and

Figure 7 isafragmentary diagrammatic plan view of apress feeder, showing relative position of the invention and its operative connectionwith the sheet detaining finger shaft and feed starting handle.

In proceeding further in detail with the iiiventi'on, it may be stated that other types of burners and h'eatersyboth gas and electrically operated, have preceded the present invention in purpose, that is, with the object inview of overcoming the objectionable static electricity forming over the surfaces of the SllGfiSili passing from the press, consequently hindering immediate settling of the sheets very frequently resulting in interference in delivery. Objectionable characteristics of certain of these burners are that they do'not operate directly from-the feeder control mech anism and some must be ignited by hand; that they are bulky and often interfere with the operator in his duties. The present invention is designed to be wholly dependent uponthe starting and stopping mechanism ofthe press feeder for itsoperation, hence a conservation offuel is realized while the press is idle, or otherwise runningwithout the use of the" feeders,-in a'ddition tothe feature of safety thereby made possible. Moreover,

the invention iscapable of beingadjusted' to obtain the proper and uniform blue flame, that is, to eliminate the objectionable red flame, which usually spreads while the sheet is being passed over same thereby causing considerable damage totli'e delivery tapes of the press-and likewise damages and smokes the sheetsin-passing.

VVithspecial reference toFig'ure 1, a' casing 1 is provided having a removable cap 2, through which a pivot?) passes, carrying a valve arm 4. The free end of this valve arm is provided with a packing disc 5 of leather or its equivalent and is adapted to snugly cover the outlet pipe 6, entering a deflected corner of the casing 1. A fuel gas enters the casing 1 through a pipe 7 and its only outlet is through pipe 6, which as stated, is controlled by valve arm l, against which a leaf spring 8 is positioned to urge the same to closed position.

It will be noted in the several figures of the drawings that the outlet pipe 6 is connected at its opposite end with the perforated burner pipe 9, by means of an elbow 10. It will likewise be observed in Figures 2 and 4 to 6 inclusive that the pipe 6 has extending therethrough a small tube 11, which is connected at either end to small metal tubes 12, one of which is in the receiving end of the outlet pipe 6, and the other, as clearly apparent in Figure 6, bypasses the elbow 10 and terminates exteriorly of the burner pipe 9. The purpose of this arrangement is obvious. In Figure 2 can be seen the mouth a of the small tube 12, through which gas may pass from the casing 1 irrespective of the position of the valve 4, such passage being controlled by moving the screw 13 immediately above the mouth a, relative to the latter. Hence gas entering the valve casing 1 is furnished with a bypass through mouth a tubes 11 and 12, and passing through the elbow 10, provides a pilot adjacent the perforation in the burner pipe 9. This gas supply is constant, unless the source through inlet pipe 7 is suspended by suitable valve means not shown.

In Figure 6, the elbow 10 is shown as provided with a nipple 14, the passage in which is reduced at the end entering the burner pipe at b, so as to materially increase the gas pressure at this point. A further control of gas pressure is provided by a ferrule 15 surrounding the burner pipe 9, having therein an opening a capable of registering with the aperture (Z of the burner pipe, to effect proper commingling of gas and air.

The pivot 3, carrying the valve arm a, has connected thereto exteriorly of the casing 1 an arm 16, as in Figures 1 and 5, and pressure imparted to this arm acts against the resistance of the spring 8 to open the passage through outlet pipe 6, in order that a supply of gas may enter the burner pipe 9, to be ignited by the pilot light burning at the end of tube 12 as stated previously.

Referring now to Figure 7 in which is shown a partial view of the type of print ing press feeder for which the invention is expressly adapted. Since the construction of such machines is well known, only that part thereof particularly affecting the invention is shown. In this figure may be seen the feed starting handle 17, which indirectly operates the air trip bar 18, and suction valve operating lever 19, the latter affecting the suction mechanism at 20, while the bar 18 impinges the sheet detainer operating lever 21, to impart movement to rod 22, rotating sheet detainer finger shaft 23, the latter carrying detainer fingers 24:. On the gear side of the press, the invention is connected to the shaft 23 by means of a U shaped member 25, more clearly shown in Figure 5, in order that the invention may be ali'ected by each and every movement of the shaft 23, since the latter controls the delivery of sheets and stops the press should for any reason the sheets become clogged.

This member 25 is provided with a collar 26 which is clamped around the shaft 23, and the member is so formed as to avoid interference with the frame of the press. To its free end is pivoted a link 27, as also apparent in Figure 5, whose free end merely abuts the end of the valve operating arm 16.

As the diagrammatic plan view in Figure 7 clearly shows, the burner pipe 9 is situated in such a manner at the delivery end of the machine that the sheets in delivery are constrained to pass directly over the flame emitted by the burner, which acts to alleviate the moisture on the sheets and to reduce or dispense with entirely the static or frictional electricity so annoying to operators. particular placing of the perforations in the pipe 9 provides a fan shaped flame, having a greater area than is usually obtained in burners of this character, and in connect-ion with the positive adjustment of the burner by movement of the ferrule 10, a blue flame is emitted which has a greater heating value, yet with less or no smoke, which may soil the sheets in passing.

It is obvious from the foregoing, and in following out the operation of parts in the drawings, that when the feed starting handle 17 is moved toward the rear of the press,

it releases the stop devices, permits the suction to operate and starts the feed, simultaneously moving the shaft 23 through bar 18, lever 21 and rod 22, causing the fingers 24 to rise. Such action also simultaneously swinging the member 25, to urge the link 27 forward against the arm 16, causing the valve arm 4- interiorly of the casing 1 to move away from the gas outlet pipe 6 against the resistance of spring 8, to permit the gas flow into the burner pipe 9 to be ignited by the pilot light through tube 12. The flame automatically follows the perforations in the pipe 9, to its remote end. Should anything cause the press to stop, the finger shaft 23 rotates, actuating the member 25, to close the valve, shutting off the gas to pipe 9, consequently, without any attention from the operator of the press, the valve is controlled.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable variation, and such variation as is in keeping with the appended The claims is considered Within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A burner for press feeders including a valve casing having fuel inlet and outlet ports; a burner pipe operatively arranged relative to the delivery end of said press immediately beneath the path taken by said sheets in delivery and having flexible connection with the outlet port of said valve casing; a fuel bypass entering said casing also having flexible connection with said burner separate from said first connection, spring pressed means for controlling the flow of fuel through said outlet port, and means to operate said. valve against the resistance of said spring to open the outlet port when said feeder is operated.

2. A burner of the character described including a valve casing having inlet and outlet ports; a valve mounted on a pivot in said housing, one end of which is normally urged to cover said outlet port; a burner pipe; a flexible fuel coupling intermediate said burner pipe and valve casing; a pilot bypass providing a like connection interiorly of said first connection, means for governing the flow of fuel through said bypass, and means to move the valve to open position When said press is operated.

3. A burner for press feeders including a valve casing having fuel inlet and outlet ports, a burner pipe disposed relative to the delivery end of said press immediately beneath the path taken by said sheets in delivery and having connection With said outlet port, a fuel bypass arranged interiorly of said pipe and having an inlet port terminating Within said casing and independent of the first named connection, valve means Within said casing for controlling the outlet port, and means for operating said valve means upon movement of the press feeder.

4. A burner for press feeders including a casing having inlet and outlet ports, a Valve pivoted in said casing for controlling said outlet port, a burner member, a pipe connecting said burner and casing, a bypass arranged interiorly of said pipe and having its inlet end terminating interiorly of the casing and independent of the outlet port, means for controlling the flow of fuel through said bypass, and means for actuating said valve upon movement of the press feeder.

5. A burner for press feeders including a casing having inlet and outlet ports, a spring pressed valve within said casing for normally closing said outlet port, a burner, a fluid conduit connecting the outlet port of the casing and burner, a fluid bypass disposed interiorly of the fluid conduit and having its inlet end terminating Within the casing independent of the fluid conduit, manually operable means for controlling the passage of fluid through said bypass and means for automatically actuating the spring pressed valve to open the same upon movement of the press feeder.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHESTER L. LANCE. 

